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Memorial Hospital forges exclusive partnership with JA Schools
(by Sandi Latimer, staff writer - November 13, 2012)
Memorial Hospital of Union County (MHUC) in Marysville and Jonathan Alder Local Schools have forged a partnership that gives the hospital exclusive rights to provide sports medicine services to the school district.
At the school board’s Nov. 12 meeting, MHUC President and CEO Chip Hubbs explained that similar agreements have been struck with the Fairbanks and North Union school districts and negotiations are under way with Marysville.
Under the agreement, the hospital will provide Jonathan Alder with athletic training services, fund the cost of such services and donate up to $20,000 a year to the athletic department. In return, Jonathan Alder will placee hospital ads in sports publications, allow the hospital to host performance enhancement clinics at the schools, and allow hospital logos to be placed on practice jerseys and uniforms.
The hospital’s cost for a trainer’s salary, routine athletic trainer equipment, pre-participation physicals and staffing for coaches’ education and parent meetings is estimated at $56,690.
“We are in a growth mode,” said Hubbs. “This will allow us to create a sports medicine program.”
The hospital is working to recruit sports medicine/orthopedic surgeons.
“We don’t have anyone yet,” Hubbs said. “We hope to have someone by June 1.”
Hubbs said the intention is not to displace anyone, but rather augment what the schools already have. School board member Dr. John Adams, who serves as team physician, praised the new partnership, saying it would complement his work. He said he looks forward to working with the hospital’s staff.
“We’re at the place where we need something like this,” Adams said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to expand our coverage.”
The trainer assigned to Jonathan Alder will provide daily training room services and attend all home games and major post-season games played at Jonathan Alder. In addition, in the fall, the trainer will be available for all football practices.
MHUC staff will hold coaching clinics in the spring and parent meetings, conduct a concussion program and ImPACT testing for all athletes, and interpret post-injury re-tests for athletes before they are cleared to return to play.
The hospital also plans to provide signage to the school district displaying the MHUC logo and this message: “Proud Supporter and Exclusive Sports Medicine Provider for Jonathan Alder Athletics.”
The proposal is for one year with an option for a one-year renewal.
Superintendent Gary L. Chapman said he had checked with his counterparts at Fairbanks and North Union and heard nothing but good reports about their partnerships with MHUC.
Adams abstained from the vote on the proposal, citing his role as the team physician and, therefore, as someone who would be working with MHUC. He encouraged his colleagues to approve it. They did.
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